Roommate stiffing me w/ the lease

[wickedpilot]

So my roommate tells me the other day that he's moving to Florida to do the Type-rating program with Regional Airline Academy.

Our apartment lease isn't up until Aug. 1st and he wants someone to sub-lease for May, June, and July.

Two things piss me off about this:
#1. He's trying to shaft me with the full months' rent (which I cannot afford on my "lucrative" CFI salary)

#2. This RAA course has got PFT written all over it. He thinks he can go down and buy his RJ type rating and get on w/ a Regional carrier in a year.

 

[wingnutt]

a can of Coke, some Dawn dishwashing detergent (dont use Joy) an ammonia pellet with a hole drilled thru it, a 10 penny nail, and a looooooong piece of string should do the trick...


...so im told

 

[Wankel7]

^^^^^ Is that some sort of enema!

It really seems like the sublet thing is something you would have to agree on with him. If no then the honorable thing would be for him to give you money for the time he is stiffing you. Who's name is the utility's in?

Never the less if just skips out on you what a tool!

 

[jetexas]

Is his name on the lease? Or is it in your name? If his name is on it, he's obligated to pay his share.

Also, kindly remind him that this is a VERY small industry and that you could one day be on a hiring board when he interviews somewhere. What goes around really does come around.

 

[Timebuilder]

Is his name on the lease? Or is it in your name? If his name is on it, he's obligated to pay his share.

Also, kindly remind him that this is a VERY small industry and that you could one day be on a hiring board when he interviews somewhere. What goes around really does come around.

I agree.

Most leases are written so that the last man standing has to pay the entire amount of rent owed.

Small claims court before he leaves town?

 

[wheelsup]

The RAA thing is a total rip off. A friend of mine was the last CFI in that didn't have to pay for the "ATC" Course as they call it.

What they DON'T tell you is you must pay $18,000 for training costs to go to Colgan in addition to their stuff!

Weeee!

He'll lose out in the end - but don't let him get away with skipping town. If he does you know where he'll be and I have friends at RAA that can verify he's there - so PM if he skips town and you want to sue .

~wheelsup

P.S. It IS a small world!

 

[ASAFOE120]

Think your roomie is taking a dump on you now, just wait till your roomate is your wife!!!

 

[Tooslow]

He is wasting his money, just focus on building your time. This will come back and haunt him...............................

 

[TXPilot]

Question?

How much notice is he giving you? 1 week, 30 days or more than that?

If he has ample time to find a replacement (that you BOTH agree on) then hold him to that. Try getting that responsibility in writing; also add that if he does not find a replacement then he is responsible to pay until he finds one. Chances are you will not get him to sign this now. But what do you have to lose, he is leaving anyway right!

This is an important key for anyone venturing into a lease with others. This agreement holds you both to the fire in an event someone has to back out. Both parties will favor signing this agreement before entering into a lease, because both parties will more than likely to be in good faith and spirits.

If he jumps ship without ample notice to prevent hardship to you then take him to small claims court immediately! Not that it would help but the threat of a suit may make him take finding a replacement seriously.

If he does give you ample notice (30 days or more) and you do not have an agreement signed like above, it then ALSO becomes your responsibility to find a replacement.

Then again this is mute if his name is not on the lease.

If it is not then it is all on you.

CYA is what I say!

Good luck!!

TXPilot

 

[wickedpilot]

Both of our names are on the lease and the utilities have been split 50/50. The only utility that's in his name is the cable.

The RAA thing is a total rip off. A friend of mine was the last CFI in that didn't have to pay for the "ATC" Course as they call it.

What they DON'T tell you is you must pay $18,000 for training costs to go to Colgan in addition to their stuff!

Weeee!

He'll lose out in the end - but don't let him get away with skipping town. If he does you know where he'll be and I have friends at RAA that can verify he's there - so PM if he skips town and you want to sue .

~wheelsup

P.S. It IS a small world!

I've heard similar stories about the Academy too. All I can say is that I've given him fair warning.

 

[EatSleepFly]

My roommate was thinking of doing something similar (some other PFT/scam type deal), although I don't think he'd screw me on the lease.

Every time I advance a little in my career he says, "yup, keep making those good contacts and you can get me a job so I won't have to instruct."

Ha, fat chance. I wouldn't recommend that lazy ba$tard for a burger flippin' job at BK. He's off his rocker if he thinks I'm EVER going to help get him a flying job. I like the kid and all, but he needs to wake up and smell the roses if he wants to ever get legitimately paid to fly. Guess thats what being born with the silver spoon in your mouth will do to ya.

 

[wickedpilot]

EatSleepFly,

No kidding-sounds very familiar. I worked dispatch at my flight school for 11 months and when it came time for upward mobility, he says to me "hey, can I have you're old job?" (keep in mind he has all of his ratings at this point, he was just too lazy to search for a job)
I tell him, "I'll mention it to the owner and put in a good word for you"

The job was essentially his, and all he had to do was show up and accept. Not only did he have the audacity to not show up, he didn't even CALL the school to decline the position. So of course, my recommendation of him makes me look like a sh!thead.

Man, that really chapped my a$$. And now, the RAA crap... I hope they suck his bank account dry (I mean his parents bank account)

 

[EatSleepFly]

So of course, my recommendation of him makes me look like a sh!thead.

Yeah, thats my biggest fear. I'm not recommending anyone unless I have complete confidence that they won't make me look like a fool.

Anyhoo, hope your situation works out ok for you.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Just put an end to this whole mess and post his name.

 

[wingnutt]

Just put an end to this whole mess and post his name.

ahhh, very nice. and dare i say...much more legal than my idea

 

[FN FAL]

Also, kindly remind him that this is a VERY small industry and that you could one day be on a hiring board when he interviews somewhere. What goes around really does come around.

It won't happen...usually the skeezy skeezers get the good jobs and nice guys finish last.

The airlines and aviation are full of people that would steal from you or not honor contracts.

Consider this scenario...either you or your roomate are expecting a call on a job or an interview and while the one waiting for the call steps out to go on a date or go do laundry...the other picks up the phone. How many people do know of in aviation are going to try and wedge in there and steal that job?

When I was in the navy, my laundry and other clothing was stolen by shipmates, I have had pilots steal from me in a plane partnership.

Next time you get an apartment, get it all in your name or all in their name...whether it's a friend or a girl friend. That way you got the right to ask them to leave or you got the freedom to up and leave. You can always sign a partnership agreement or whatever to split the bills, but you should always have the everything in one name. Makes splitting up easy.

 

[pilotman2105]

I've got a friend who goes about it FN FAL's way. Has everything in his name, and if he gets a roommate that doesn't pay, he kicks the roommate out.

If your roomie is sticking you with the lease, you're pretty much screwed. But if he continues to act like this and continues to piss other people off, he won't get far. Yeah there is the saying that "Eagles soar high, but weasels don't get sucked into jet intakes." But if your ex-roomie pisses enough people off, it'll bite him in the a$$ eventually.